Highland Cattle!
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Highland cattle are a Scottish cattle breed. They have long horns and long wavy coats that are coloured black, brindle, red, yellow, white, silver (looks white but with a black nose) or dun, and they are raised primarily for their meat. They originated in the Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland and were first mentioned in the 6th century AD. The first herd book described two distinct types of Highland cattle but, due to crossbreeding between the two, only one type now exists and is registered. They have since been exported worldwide. They are a hardy breed due to their native environment, the Highlands of Scotland. This results in long hair, giving the breed its ability to overwinter. Bulls can weigh up to 800 kilograms (1,800 pounds) and cows up to 500 kilograms.. Their milk generally has a very high butterfat content, and their meat, regarded as of the highest quality, is gaining mainstream acceptance as it is low in cholesterol. They have an unusual double coat of hair. On the outside is the oily outer hair - the longest of any cattle breed - covering a downy undercoat. This makes them well suited to conditions in the Highlands, which have a high annual rainfall and sometimes very strong winds. Their skill in foraging for food allows them to survive in steep mountain areas where they both graze and eat plants that many other cattle avoid. They can dig through the snow with their horns to find buried plants. Mature bulls can weigh up to 800 kilograms and cows can weigh up to 500 kilograms . Cows typically have a height of 90–106 centimeters , and bulls are typically in the range of 106–120 centimeters Mating occurs throughout the year with a gestation period of approximately 277–290 days. Most commonly a single calf is born, but twins are not unknown. Sexual maturity is reached at about eighteen months. Highland cattle also have a longer expected lifespan than most other breeds of cattle, up to 20 years. The coat colors are caused by alleles at the MC1R gene (E locus) and the PMEL or SILV gene (D locus). They have a docile temperament and the milk has a high butterfat content, so have traditionally been used as house cows. They are generally good-natured animals but very protective of their young. All European cattle cope relatively well with low temperatures but Highland cattle have been described as "...almost as cold-tolerant as the arc A fold of semi-wild Highland cattle was studied, over a period of 4 years. It was found that the cattle have a clear structure and hierarchy of dominance, which reduced aggression. Social standing depended on age and sex, with older cattle being dominant to calfs and younger ones and males dominant to females. Young bulls would dominate adult cows when they reached around 2 years of age. Calves from the top ranking cow were given higher social status, despite minimal intervention from their mother. Playfighting, licking and mounting were seen as friendly contact. Breeding occurred in May and June, with heifers first giving birth at 2–3 years old. The breed was developed in the Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland from two types of now-extinct cattle, one originally black, and the other reddish. The original cattle were brought to Britain by Neolithic farmers. Highland cattle have a history that dates back to at least the 6th century AD, with the first written evidence dating back to the 12th century AD. The 1885 herd book describes two distinct types of Highland cattle. One was the West Highland, or Kyloe, originating from the islands, which had harsher conditions. These cattle tended to be smaller, to have black coats and, due to their more rugged environment, to have long hair. The other type was the mainland; these tended to be larger because their pastures provided richer nutrients. They came in a range of colours, most frequently dun or red. These types have now been crossbred so that there is no distinct difference. Since the early 20th century, breeding stock has been exported to many parts of the world, especially Australia and North America. It is estimated that there are now around 15,000 Highland cattle in the United Kingdom.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Highland Cattle!
If you would like to see some of my friends, please click "here"!
Highland cattle are a Scottish cattle breed. They have long horns and long wavy coats that are coloured black, brindle, red, yellow, white, silver (looks white but with a black nose) or dun, and they are raised primarily for their meat. They originated in the Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland and were first mentioned in the 6th century AD. The first herd book described two distinct types of Highland cattle but, due to crossbreeding between the two, only one type now exists and is registered. They have since been exported worldwide. They are a hardy breed due to their native environment, the Highlands of Scotland. This results in long hair, giving the breed its ability to overwinter. Bulls can weigh up to 800 kilograms (1,800 pounds) and cows up to 500 kilograms.. Their milk generally has a very high butterfat content, and their meat, regarded as of the highest quality, is gaining mainstream acceptance as it is low in cholesterol. They have an unusual double coat of hair. On the outside is the oily outer hair - the longest of any cattle breed - covering a downy undercoat. This makes them well suited to conditions in the Highlands, which have a high annual rainfall and sometimes very strong winds. Their skill in foraging for food allows them to survive in steep mountain areas where they both graze and eat plants that many other cattle avoid. They can dig through the snow with their horns to find buried plants. Mature bulls can weigh up to 800 kilograms and cows can weigh up to 500 kilograms . Cows typically have a height of 90–106 centimeters , and bulls are typically in the range of 106–120 centimeters Mating occurs throughout the year with a gestation period of approximately 277–290 days. Most commonly a single calf is born, but twins are not unknown. Sexual maturity is reached at about eighteen months. Highland cattle also have a longer expected lifespan than most other breeds of cattle, up to 20 years. The coat colors are caused by alleles at the MC1R gene (E locus) and the PMEL or SILV gene (D locus). They have a docile temperament and the milk has a high butterfat content, so have traditionally been used as house cows. They are generally good-natured animals but very protective of their young. All European cattle cope relatively well with low temperatures but Highland cattle have been described as "...almost as cold-tolerant as the arc A fold of semi-wild Highland cattle was studied, over a period of 4 years. It was found that the cattle have a clear structure and hierarchy of dominance, which reduced aggression. Social standing depended on age and sex, with older cattle being dominant to calfs and younger ones and males dominant to females. Young bulls would dominate adult cows when they reached around 2 years of age. Calves from the top ranking cow were given higher social status, despite minimal intervention from their mother. Playfighting, licking and mounting were seen as friendly contact. Breeding occurred in May and June, with heifers first giving birth at 2–3 years old. The breed was developed in the Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland from two types of now-extinct cattle, one originally black, and the other reddish. The original cattle were brought to Britain by Neolithic farmers. Highland cattle have a history that dates back to at least the 6th century AD, with the first written evidence dating back to the 12th century AD. The 1885 herd book describes two distinct types of Highland cattle. One was the West Highland, or Kyloe, originating from the islands, which had harsher conditions. These cattle tended to be smaller, to have black coats and, due to their more rugged environment, to have long hair. The other type was the mainland; these tended to be larger because their pastures provided richer nutrients. They came in a range of colours, most frequently dun or red. These types have now been crossbred so that there is no distinct difference. Since the early 20th century, breeding stock has been exported to many parts of the world, especially Australia and North America. It is estimated that there are now around 15,000 Highland cattle in the United Kingdom.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia